Improving air quality in bedded systems

The high concentration of airborne particles in deep-bedded animal buildings, including straw-based pig shelters (Banhazi et al. 2000) and horse stables, and the negative effects of high bioaerosol concentrations on human and animal health, are a concern for the intensive livestock industries (Cargill et al. 2000). Oil spraying has been used in straw-based shelters (Banhazi et al. 1999), but there are practical difficulties involved in spraying stables housing horses. The treatment of sawdust with oil prior to animals entering the buildings is an option. The effects of impregnating sawdust with canola oil on the concentration of airborne particles inside four horse stables (two control and two experimental) were studied.